Out and About

Winter at Nana Cardoon's

2010-03-11T14:03:00.001-08:00

Rachel's Tree Swallows have enjoyed several trips to Nana Cardoon's family farm, despite the rain and chill this winter. In top secret, they have been interviewing Nana and Richard about their garden practices to create a Treasure book this Spring. The book will be a thank you for the many treats that the couple has shared with the class. Below, see the delicious rolls that they taught Swallows to make in their earth oven. This month, Swallow students also had the chance to share their knowledge of farmlife at Nana Cardoon's with their Level Three Owl buddies.

The Kestrels Fish Release

2010-03-11T13:33:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, Charlie's Kestrels trekked out to Scoggins Creek at Hagg Lake to release the trout that they had been raising from eggs in the school aquarium. It was a frenzied race against the clock to scoop up as many trout as possible before loading onto the bus. After finding a safe location for their tiny trout to start their life in the current, students explored the creekside, discovering beaver sticks and other treasures. After lunch, the class got an exclusive tour of the Scoggins dam spillway.

During this trip, the Kestrels were already experienced fish releasers: just in December, they made the trip to John Blodgett Arboretum off Highway 6 to release a batch of salmon. The tree full of woodpecker holes and a salmon jaw, below, were just a few of the discoveries made in these woods. Students also gathered up over 16 pounds of garbage on this trip, sorting and disposing of it back at school.

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile

2010-03-11T12:27:00.000-08:00

Exactly how do you catch a crocodile? And, if I blindfold you and spin you 3.6 times, will you stil be able to find your way? An what is that magical energy that keeps anti-gravity poles off the ground? When it comes to team-building activities, games that challenge students to work together in creative ways, the more outrageous the challenge, the more fun! Just ask these students...

Senior Center

2010-03-11T11:33:00.000-08:00

During December, Level 2 classes made visits to the local Senior Center to learn and share stories with the seniors of Forest Grove.

The Falcons presented a short play they had been working on about land rights in Forest Grove. Since many of the Seniors had been residing in this area for over 40 years, they were able to share stories of watching Forest Grove change and grow over time.

Seniors at the Center on Wednesday got the chance to make holiday cards with the Merlins. With stacks of old cards, scissors and glue at their disposal, students worked with Senior buddies to craft creatively reused cards. At first timid, students worked up to asking the seniors to share stories about their childhood and schoolyear memories. The cards were sold at a winter Celebration of Learning as a fund-raiser for Pennies for Peace.

For the Kestrels visit, students brought their most prized skill: oragami. They folded paper crane ornaments as a gift for seniors, and taught those who were willing to fold their own cranes. They ended by singing, "Cranes Over Hiroshima," inpiring many tears among the audience. As I rounded up the troups to head back to school, 6th-grade Abe turned and said, "I don't ever want to leave! This place is awesome." There you have it!

The Great Level 2 Leaf Dump!

2009-12-11T12:05:00.001-08:00

At Outdoor School, Level Two students learned all about the layers of soil, and how forest duff decomposes to make the rich topsoil in which plants grow. They put their knowledge into practice several weeks ago by mulching the lot that will soon be the Community School's Learning Garden! Equipped with shovels, wheelbarrows, and other garden tools, the Kestrels, Merlins, and Falcons had to practice teamwork and communication in order to move and spread the massive leaf piles through the garden.

As they dug through the piles, some students made an exciting discovery: the center of the pile radiated warmth, steaming into the cold outside air! The presence of so many microorganisms and other decomposers in the pile, hungrily breaking down the organic material, can actually generate heat. It is this rich, decomposing matter that will ammend the soil, improving its quality for planting in the Springtime. Great work level two students!

If you would like to learn more about the development of our educational garden, please contact me at e.morgan@fgcschool.org. Meanwhile, enjoy the pictures below. Thanks!

Swallow Shelters in the B Street Wilderness

2009-12-02T16:59:00.000-08:00

On recent Out and Abouts, Barn Swallows and Tree Swallows have been hard at work learning wilderness survival skills. Before the cold drove us inside for the Fall, students learned to make shelters using natural materials.

Several weeks ago, students began preparations by investigating how animals make their homes. Sherry's Barn Swallows went on a search for homes underneath a rock or log, and recorded the living creatures they discovered there, from slugs and worms to colorful fungi. Karen's Tree Swallows used cameras to record natural animal homes they found all around B Street. They photographed hollow logs, bird nests, and gopher holes, and used their knowledge to predict who might make a home there.

Next, the classes read about building shelters from a wilderness survival guidebook, and spent one week investigating B Street to find excellent locations for a shelter. They had to consider many factors, such as the slope of the land, water drainage, the direction of the sun, and natural hazards that might endanger their shelter!

Once a prime spot was chosen, teams of students had the opportunity to practice building their own shelters! One type of shelter is a wiki-up, a stick structure similar to a teepee, insulated with leaves and other debris. Find a nearby swallow student, and I'll bet that he or she can explain all the steps to build this shelter. The second type of shelter students built was a lean-to. This was a challenge for all the groups, but with amazing teamwork, they succeeded beautifully! See below for pictures:

Outdoor School

2009-11-20T12:33:00.000-08:00

Level Two students spend last week at beautiful Camp Cedar Ridge, located in Vernonia. During thier visit, the students got to participate in four field studies, assess their personal environmental impact with Captain Conservation, sing campfire songs, and share a night-time adventure with their cabinmates and amazing couselors. I hope you'll enjoy this glimpse into their adventure...

Nori (a.k.a. Gretchen) and her class explored the forest and its inhabitants with the Plants Field Instructor, Lichen. They learned about the parts of a plant, met some native shrubs, and investigated decomposition and the carbon cycle with a F.B.I. hunt - that's fungus, bacteria, and invertebrates. In a final game, students learned the steps of forest succession - only a few had what it took to reach an Old Growth Forest.

The class also got close and personal with some of Cedar Ridge's wildlife. The students learned about predator and prey adaptations by observing preserved birds, antlers, and wings at the "dead zoo," learned a catchy song about insect parts, danced the levels of the food chain, and one lucky student even got to transform into a beaver!

I joined Sunrise (known to others as Veronica) and her class on a water study at the nearby creek, led by enthusiastic Instructor Lakota. Not only did students get to search for water-critters using nets and buckets, they also learned to monitor the health of the water, testing it chemically for Dissolved Oxygen (D.O). The class ended with a discussion of the life cycle of salmon (which students can observe happening right now, in the aquarium outside Charlie's classroom), and a final reprise of "The Water Cycle Boogie."

Crane (sometimes called Charlie), and his class joined Field Instructor Rocky on an exploration of the Earth. By taking a sample of soil, they got a close look at the layers of soil. Students turned a large sandy court into the state of Oregon, within a few minutes building mountains that have taken geologic forces millions of years! Using their model, students acted out the subduction of the tectonic Pacific Plate, and the orographic lifting that makes the Eastern side of our state so dry. Students warmed up at the end in a team game - a mad dash to move their "carbon" from one bucket to the next, experiencing what can happen when the carbon cycle is knocked out of balance by natural and human causes.

At recreation time, there was an epic battle of "Sprout Ball," an every-man-to-himself version of dodge-ball using soft foam balls. As the mist crept over the meadow for the evening, students headed into the cozy dining hall for a final dinner Thursday night, cheeks flushed, minds packed with new knowledge, eager to share the stories the next day with their families...

Thanks for coming along on the journey with Level Two. Visit again soon!

Interested in volunteering on future Out and Abouts? Email me at e.morgan@fgcschool.org

Autumn Greetings!

2009-11-09T10:16:00.000-08:00

Hello Forest Grove Community School!

Here in the Out and About world, the year has gotten off to great start, filled with learning and adventure. I will update this blog throughout the year to share the highlights the time we spend, Out and About in the community.

I’m Erin, and as an Americorps member, I will be working with your Level One and Two students as the Out and About Coordinator this school year.

I hail from the San Francisco Bay Area, where I spent many afternoons as a child crafting mudpies and climbing the Buckeye trees in my backyard. I received my Bachelor’s degree UC Berkeley, and have since been working in environmental education. Interning at a school garden in Berkeley, I discovered my passion for watching plants grow, and encouraging children to get their hands dirty. I spent last year working as an Instructor at High Trails Outdoor Science School, in the mountains of Southern California. After enjoying a summer of backpacking through the Sierras, I loaded up my possessions into my little 2-door, and drove northward to Forest Grove!

Since September, I have been busy orienting myself in town, stocking up with winter squash at the farmers' market, watching the flocks of Canadian geese at Fernhill Wetlands, and buying rain gear from the local thrift-store. And, of course, I have been getting acquainted with the Level One and Two classes on their first trips of the year, and trying desperately to remember some 140 new names!

I am looking forward to forming great relationships with all of the classes, and finding new opportunities for them to connect with the community and local environment this year. Our Out and About program is always looking to involve new volunteers, and I welcome all of you, as parents and community members, to join us on a future trip! Feel free to contact me at e.morgan@fgcschool.org.

With that, here are some highlights from the first Out and Abouts of the year:

B Street Permaculture Farm. Sherry and Karen’s class have already visited B Street Farm several times this year. As the leaves have turned bright red and orange, these classes have helped the farm harvest their final summer crops to prepare for the winter. The Barn Swallows tackled a large bed of amaranth, harvesting beautiful red bundles for drying. The Violet Green Swallows helped to collect sunflower seeds from flowers that were almost as large as them! As it turns out, it is hard work being a farmer!

Now that the farm is preparing for a winter’s rest, the students have been exploring B Street to discover what plants and creatures live there. The students will be investigating the farm to understand how these organisms can find everything they need to survive- right in the farm!

Nana Cardoon's. Rachel’s Tree Swallows visited Nana Cardoon’s, a large home garden in Forest Grove. Students collected apples with Charlene, and learned how to use a real-live cider press with Richard. They helped to harvest peppers and eggplant, and pull out weeds. After some hard farm work, there was fire-warmed cider for all, and a toast to a successful harvest!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Last Week, All Level One classes got to bus their way to Portland to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a play based on Roald Dahl’s book, and presented by the Oregon Children’s Theater. We got to sample handmade truffles from Moonstruck Cafe, and practive navigating busy Portland streets. It was a fun and tasty trip!

Hyla Woods. For Level Two, Charlie’s Kestrels had a few visits to the nearby Tom McCall Forest in the month of September, where they practiced the art of tree-sketching and undertook a scavenger hunt. They also reunited with Peter Hayes at Hyla Woods, a sustainable forestry site where they will be doing their second year of water quality analysis using leaf packs. This year, they brought along Gretchen’s Kestrels as well, who got to take the “mystery tour” to discover clues revealing the history of the site.

B Street Permaculture Farm. Veronica’s Peregrine Falcons have joined the other Level 2 classes in a visit to B Street where they have helped the farm set up beds for the winter. Students also got to try out using compasses in order to navigate an orienteering course, imagining what it must have been like for Lewis and Clark to make their journey westward across the United States.

Fort Clatsop. Level Two classes also ventured out to the coast to visit Fort Clatsop, the 1805 winter site of Lewis and Clark. With the resident experts, students toured the Fort replica and nearby museum, debated which kind of whale the expedition encountered on the beach, and took a nearby hike.

In the next months, students can look forward to exploring the signs of the changing season as winter approaches.

Be prepared with good boots and raincoats, and look forward to future updates!

Fernhill Wetlands

2009-05-11T11:20:00.000-07:00

Level One took their study of wetland ecosystems to the trails and ponds of Fernhill Wetlands. It was a beautiful spring day with lots of wildlife sightings and time for exploration!

B Street Farm

2009-05-01T11:14:00.000-07:00

We visited B Street Farm to lend a hand with some maintenance projects - making paths between beds, creating a terrace in the hillside and leveling out the gravel road. We got to use wheelbarrows, shovels, loppers and even a sledgehammer! Some of the students thought this was the best Out and About all year!

Hyla Woods Leaf Pack

2009-04-28T11:08:00.000-07:00

The Kestrels returned to Hyla Woods to check on their leaf packs and help determine the health of the stream.

Earth Day!

2009-04-22T11:03:00.000-07:00

In celebration of Earth Day, all Level Two students helped with a service project at Tom McCall Forest. Each class planted native plants, watered the beds, picked up trash and moved some leaf mulch into the forest!

Spring Flowers and Water Colors

2009-04-20T10:59:00.000-07:00

Level Two took advantage of the flowering trees and plants on Pacific's campus to create nature sketches and water color paintings.

Jackson Bottom Wetlands

2009-04-17T10:48:00.000-07:00

All Level One classes spent the day at Jackson Bottom Wetland, in some of the craziest weather we've seen yet on an Out and About (sunny, windy, a short rain storm and even some hail)!

Egg Drop Challenge!

2009-04-17T10:38:00.000-07:00

Some Level 1 and 2 classes were challenged with creating a "safety device" that would protect an egg from a fall from 8-10 feet! Teams constructed their device with natural and re-used materials, and then each team made up a short commercial for their product.

Audubon Society of Portland

2009-03-20T10:15:00.000-07:00

Level One visited Forest Park for a hike and a program called "Beautiful Birds." Students learned more about the local forest ecosystem on the hike and looked for signs of wildlife. During the classroom program, pairs of students examined bird skeletons and nests! We even got to peek inside the bird hospital.

Beal Pond

2009-03-13T09:39:00.000-07:00

Level Two visited Beal Pond to practice identifying birds, investigate the functions of the wetland and look for signs of wildlife.

Kestrel Trout Release

2009-03-06T09:55:00.000-08:00

The Kestrels traveled to Scoggins Creek to release the trout they raised in the school fish tank.

Forest Grove Police Station

2009-02-27T09:42:00.001-08:00

Inside the booking room!

Getting ready to see the holding cell

The Violet Green Swallows and the Barn Swallows join forces!

We even got to meet the Chief of Police!

Historic Tour of Forest Grove

2009-02-09T12:57:00.000-08:00

Tom McCall Forest

2009-02-04T16:05:00.000-08:00

Charlie's class visited Tom McCall Forest to fill the bird feeders, clean up trash, spread leaves over the flower beds, and look for signs of spring.

Litter patrol

Preparing the flower beds.

Lots of hands made the work go by fast!

Discussing the changes in the forest.

McMenamins

2009-01-16T14:45:00.000-08:00

Level One visited McMenamin's Grand Lodge to learn a little more about the local history of Forest Grove!

Learning about the art in the hallways.

Our tour guide, Pat, pointing out the mason's symbol hovering above the Grand Lodge.

Exploring the Movie Theater!

Checking out the old fire escape!

Environmental Art Installations

2008-12-20T12:24:00.000-08:00

The Level Two students visited an often over-looked section of Ash Street Field to create sculptures with natural materials. After studying about Andy Goldsworthy in art, the students had an opportunity to create their own art installations using non-native species and other found, natural objects.

Salmon Release

2008-12-12T12:42:00.001-08:00

A Taste of Forest Grove

2008-12-05T12:05:00.000-08:00

Level One visited restaurants in downtown Forest Grove this week to continue their study of food and culture!

Waste Management

2008-12-05T11:35:00.000-08:00

Level Two classes visited the Waste Management transfer center in Forest Grove this week to learn about what happens to their trash and recycling! The students had lots of questions for our guide, Dave, and and were surprised to learn that tons of garbage leave Forest Grove for the landfill everyday. Throughout the rest of the unit, the classrooms will be studying consumerism and the ways they can influence the amount of trash that goes to our landfills.

Grande Foods

2008-11-18T09:06:00.000-08:00

Level One visited Grande Foods in Cornelius with their classes last week. Tom Evans, the owner, told them about the creation of the store and took them on a behind-the-scenes tour! After the tour, the students got to try some fresh pastries and hot chocolate!

Local Government

2008-11-18T09:03:00.000-08:00

The Merlins and Peregrine Falcons visited Forest Grove City Hall and met with Mayor Kidd. He spoke about the responsibilities of city council and the other local offices. The students asked lots of questions and got to see the mayor's office!

B Street Farm

2008-11-04T13:44:00.000-08:00

Last week, the Level 1 classes visited B Street Farm

We checked out the rabbits and learned how the farm can use the fur.

This is the sod house that will soon hold a composting toilet!

The students got to pass around a fresh, warm chicken egg.

After the tour, we helped removes some non-native plants from the farm property and fed them to the goats!

One of the farmers showed us how they milk the goat

Duyck's Peachy Pig Farm

2008-10-22T13:56:00.001-07:00

Ash Street Field

2008-10-03T09:47:00.000-07:00

This week, the Level One classes enjoyed the sun and warm weather at Ash Street Field. On Monday, the Tree Swallows introduced me to the area and the work they did there last year. The Violet Green Swallows had their first trip to the field on Tuesday and spent the afternoon exploring! The students shared their wondering questions and the topics they hope to learn more about throughout the year. The Barn Swallows had high hopes for finding some worms on Wednesday! Unfortunately, the rain had not arrived yet and the soil was too dry for worms. The students searched for other insects instead and found some big spiders!

Upcoming Out and Abouts include farm and grocery store trips for Level One and tours of local government for Level Two.

Welcome!

2008-09-26T13:14:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the Out and About blog for the Level 1 and Level 2 classes at Forest Grove Community School! My name is Laura Harley and I will be working with the classroom teachers this year to coordinate Out and Abouts. I hope to update the blog each week with photos and reports for our adventures in the community. Please feel free to email me at l.harley@fgcschool.org with any questions or to volunteer!

I am a Northwest Service Academy AmeriCorps member and I will complete 1700 hours of service this year at the school and through other local programs. I recently moved to Forest Grove from Michigan, where I grew up and went to school. I have degrees in History and Education and I enjoying hiking, climbing, canoeing and skiing. Below are some photos from a trip I led this summer to the Wind River Range in Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park!